I was plenty happy after visits to four exceptional happy hours, each with discounted cocktails and low-priced edibles. All are worth a visit, to gather with friends, unwind after work, graze on small plates and enjoy a beverage or two.

BRAVO!

THE SCOOP: Judging from the packed house, the word is out on the happy hour from 3:30 to 6:30 weekdays in this popular Italian restaurant's large and inviting bar area. The menu offers appetizers and cocktails at $4, $5 and $6. An unadvertised fact is these same items/prices are available again from 9 to close on weeknights.

DRINKS: Two of the $4 drinks are highly recommended: Italian Lemonade with vodka, gin, orange liqueur and housemade lemonade, and White Peach Sangria with peach nectar, peach schnapps, Chardonnay, fresh berries and citrus. Or choose from the Black Raspberry Cosmo ($5) or Mango Mojito ($6), plus four wines are $5 and more.

FOOD: The lightest option is the $4 Caprese salad, a dinner-plate-sized layout of marinated tomatoes, sliced mozzarella, fresh basil and field greens with a balsamic vinaigrette drizzle. Best value is the entree-sized crispy shrimp Napoli ($6), with 15 fried shrimp and scallions in a charred tomato sauce made with banana peppers, honey and lemon butter. Thumbs-up also to the pulled-pork sliders ($5), featuring four toasted buns filled with tender slow-cooked pork, spiced with sriracha mayo and pickled red onions. And don't miss the flatbread topped with grilled chicken, smoked bacon, creamy spinach and melted cheese ($5).

THE CROWD: An older crowd gathers here, mostly upper 40s through 60s. "It's pretty busy Wednesday through Friday. Wednesday is $5 martinis, Thursday is $5 wines and Friday is just Friday," bartender Shaun Patterson said. Bartender Nick Rhodes said, "It's a very intense happy hour. People start showing up at 3:30 and they're usually here for the duration."

4224 Everhard Rd. NW, Jackson Township, 330-494-9170.

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LONGHORN STEAKHOUSE

THE SCOOP: Longhorn recently launched its first-ever happy-hour menu of cocktails and appetizers, available from 4 to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday. "It's a way to showcase the creativity of the Longhorn culinary department, and show that we're not just steaks," managing partner Jamey Petit said. About the appetizers, bartender Jessica Weber said, "I think people like the variety, and the size is right."

Page 2 of 2 - CROWD: "We get a lot of young professionals and retail groupings from The Strip," Petit said about the happy-hour crowd. "The regulars have really latched onto it."

6626 Strip Ave., Jackson Township, 330-305-1984.

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91 WOOD -FIRED OVEN

THE SCOOP: From 4 to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday, the darkly atmospheric bar at this hip, ever-popular eatery offers a $4 menu of five-ounce wine pours, martinis, two-for-$4 domestic beers and snacks. Would make for a fantasict after-matinee stop on Saturday.

FOOD: $4 gets you a 7-inch pie pan filled with kettle-cooked potato chips topped with herb ranch dressing, melted cheddar cheese and honey-glazed bacon, or the same chips topped with blue cheese dressing, melted blue cheese crumbles and a drizzle of balsamic vinegar-brown sugar reduction. Decadently delicious, each of these could serve as a meal. Another $4 option is a six-slice pizza with three cheeses, marinara and fresh basil baked in 91's wood-fired oven.

CROWD: Bartender Anita Alexander said 91's happy-hour crowd runs the age gamut from mid-20s to 70s. "We get a lot of professional people, a lot of couples, some people come alone," she said. "It's a pretty social place, especially on Friday afternoons."

5570 Fulton Dr. NW, Jackson Township, 330-497-9111.

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TGI FRIDAYS

THE SCOOP: On Three Buck Thursdays at TGI Fridays, three cocktails and six appetizers are bargain priced at $3 apiece (all nine would total $27!) These are available from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. not just at the bar, but in the entire restaurant.